Father's Day: Some Familiar Faces

Dear George,

It’s no easy business being a dad.  It takes hard work, perseverance, and a certain degree of sensitivity.  Dads are forced to actually enter adulthood and stay more mature than the kiddies.  We never got any lessons in school about fatherhood.  We mostly learned from observing the role models around us.  These are dads from Katja’s and my family who have been important in that endeavor.    

Buck with Ami and David (circa 1955)

Here’s my Philly father-in-law Buck

Dad to Katja and David and Ami

He took them each summer to the Jersey shore

Where life was idyllic and balmy

David (front right) with Mandy (front left) (March 2012)

This is my brother-in-law David

Who raised Tyler, Jonny, and Mandy

They lived in the biggest house in Dixon

They’ve been lucky that David’s so handy

Vic with Steve (July 1944)

This is my own dad, Victor L.

Plus Steven and Peter and Vicki

Vic bought us all the ice cream we wanted

No wonder our palms were so sticky

Kent (left) with his son Thor and his twin brother Karl (ca. 1949)

My Uncle Kent ran the Menominee Drugs

Dad to Stewart and Kurt and Thor

He came back home with a Silver Star

From France in the Second World War

Ralph and Martha with John and Ann (ca. 1955)

Uncle Ralph operated the Marinette Drugs

His kids were Johnny and Ann

Ralph was a big-hearted and generous man

He loved to be home with his clan

Steve with Jennifer and Greg (ca. 1972)

My brother Steve’s family lives off in Seattle

There’s Jennifer and Jason and and Greg

Steve took them all fishing on Puget Sound

As a dad he was such a good egg

Peter with Chris (left) and Jessica (right) (ca. 2000)

Peter was head of our East Coast branch

His kids are Jessica and Chris

He always signed off saying “I love you”

It’s a habit that all of us miss

George with Abra (August 1982)

Vicki’s George, such a devoted dad

To Jacob and Abra and Rhys

He taught them many deep lessons in life

Most of all a commitment to peace

Dave with J (ca. 1972)

Here I am with our own son J

J was born in nine sixty-nine

We had many good times at the Cincy Zoo

Never once did I hear that J whine

J with L (left) and V (right) (April 2014)

Now J has become a dad on his own

In September V and L will turn seven

J is so devoted, loving, and caring

The kids’ lives are sort of like heaven

* * * * * * * * * *

Things I learned from the fathers in our family

From my father-in-law Buck I learned to be thrilled by one’s children’s doings.

From my brother-in-law David I learned to approach parenting with a quirky sense of humor.

From my dad Vic I learned to hold high expectations for one’s kids.

From my uncle Kent I learned to hold firm to a righteous path.

From my uncle Ralph I learned to be kindhearted and expansive with one’s family.

From my brother Steve I learned to introduce one’s children to a life of adventure.

From my brother Peter I learned to express boundless love to family members.

From my brother-in-law George I learned to be playful and creative as a father.

From my son J I learned to always be there for one’s kids. 

If you put all of these together you would wind up with a Super Dad.

Love on Father’s Day,

Dave